X’s new feature reveals foreign origins of some popular U.S. political accounts

Summary:

X (formerly Twitter) rolled out an “Origin checkmark” feature revealing location metadata inconsistencies in political accounts. The tool found at least 2.4 million U.S.-targeted accounts with foreign IP addresses, including several popular profiles discussing immigration and election policies. This often triggers when accounts use VPNs, server farms, or bot networks to mask their true location. Other red flags include sudden changes in posting times, API-linked automation tools, and anti-authentication patterns.

What This Means for You:

• Impact: Foreign actors can manipulate public opinion using seemingly local accounts
• Fix: Use X’s account checker: Settings > Privacy > Account origins
• Security: Foreign-linked accounts often spread malware through “voter guide” PDF attachments
• Warning: Accounts promoting extreme bipartisan content likely aren’t authentic

Solutions:

Solution 1: Verify Account Origins

X’s origin tracker cross-references IP logs, device fingerprints, and payment methods. Green checkmarks confirm consistent location history. On desktop:

X menu > More tools > Account transparency > View geodata history

Solution 2: Install BotBuster Plugin

This open-source tool flags accounts with:
– >70% retweet ratio
–

curl https://botbuster.org/install.sh | bash

Solution 3: Enable Cross-Platform Verification

Authentic accounts typically have linked verification across platforms. Use Spywary (spywary.com) to check:
spywary verify @username --platforms=instagram,facebook,truthsocial

Solution 4: Demand API Transparency

Force disclosure of account automation tools via GDPR/CCPA requests:
echo "Subject Access Request: All API logs for @targetaccount" | mailto:dpo@x.com

People Also Ask:

• Q: Why should foreign political accounts concern me? A: They inflame divisions using culturally tailored misinformation
• Q: How accurate is X’s geolocation tool? A: 93% accuracy per Stanford audits, but VPNs create false negatives
• Q: Are all foreign accounts malicious? A: No – journalists and diplomats operate legally with transparency
• Q: What happens to flagged accounts? A: X applies “foreign influence” labels restricting algorithmic promotion

Protect Yourself:

• Cross-reference viral political claims with AP/Reuters fact checks
• Install the Coalition Against Stalkerware browser extension
• Enable X’s “GeoFence” mode blocking cross-border political content
• Never download “voter information” files from unsolicited DMs

Expert Take:

“This feature reveals the industrial scale of information laundering – foreign ops buy aged American accounts then slowly radicalize followers through algorithm-friendly ‘bothsidesism’ content.” – Dr. Alicia Blum-Ross, Oxford Internet Institute

Tags:

• identify foreign political accounts on social media
• X platform origin verification tool explained
• how to check if Twitter account is foreign-operated
• protect against election misinformation campaigns
• VPN detection in social media political accounts
• foreign influence operations U.S. politics 2023

*Featured image via source

Edited by 4idiotz Editorial System